Tag Archives: Gumby Fest

Tag Archives: Gumby Fest

Gumby’s Going to College!

Gumby Fest has a new home – Citrus College in Glendora, California. The second annual Gumby Fest is expanding to fill an entire weekend (Sept. 18-20, 2015) and a larger venue. With so much to see and do, you won’t want to miss it.

Gumby turns 60 this year and Citrus is celebrating its centennial, so it’s a great time to bring the two together to present the festival that will feature all the fun from the inaugural festival and much more.

“This is such a fortuitous opportunity for our programs,” says Robert Slack, Dean of Fine and Performing Arts at Citrus College. “We are 18 months away from finishing a new 30,000 square- foot Fine Arts Complex that will have more than 100 Mac stations to teach design, animation and various other digital media classes.”

“There are so many related disciplines in the arts that are part of a stop-motion production, so having Citrus present Gumby Fest 2015 will be perfect,” said Joe Clokey, son of creator Art Clokey. “I’m sure Gumby Fest 2015 will put smiles on a whole new group of families and animation enthusiasts.”

New this year will be the first U.S. Stop-Motion Animation Festival spotlighting the work of students from kindergarten to college, as well as post-collegiate entries.

Festival activities will include more children’s art workshops in classrooms, discussion panels with stop-motion animation professionals, screenings of Gumby cartoons and stop-motion animation submissions, as well as an expanded Gumby Through the Years presented by Joe Clokey, son of creator Art Clokey, and more.

Art and Ruth Clokey founded Clokey Films (later renamed Clokey Productions) when they launched Gumby in 1955. The studio moved from Hollywood to a larger facility in Glendora, California in 1960, when they began production on 85 Gumby episodes and 65 Davey and Goliath episodes.

Gumby debuted on NBC’s Howdy Doody Show and became an instant success to get his own series on the network. Gumby and his friends starred in more than 209 TV episodes and a movie.

Many of the animators, puppet makers and set designers who worked with the Clokeys in Glendora went on to work for Star Wars,A Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, James and the Giant Peach and more stop-motion animation and other film classics.

Clokey’s son Joe and his wife Joan employ top animators, puppet makers and set designers in the industry (many of whom were mentored by Art himself) as they continue all things Gumby with Premavision, Inc., and Prema Toy, Inc.

A new generation of Gumby fans are enjoying re-mastered Gumby episodes broadcast on Teletoon in Canada and on Kabillion and Ameba TV here in the United States.

For more information about Gumby Fest, email Matt Jackson, professor of Animation at the Citrus College Fine and Performing Arts Department, mjackson@citruscollege.edu.

Family Fun for All Ages

The inaugural Gumby Fest, June 14, 2014, in Glendora, California, was a smashing success! Thousands of Los Angeles locals, and Gumby fans from as far away as Canada and Las Vegas, turned out celebrate all things Gumby and honor Gumby’s connection to Glendora. The Gumby studio, Clokey Productions, which also produced the famed Davey and Goliath series, was located in Glendora in the 1960s and 70s. The Glendora Chamber of Commerce, Glendora Community Services, Glendora Library, Glendora Rotary and Glendora Kiwanis banded together to produce this historic event in Gumby’s childhood hometown!

Special Guests, Fascinating Presentations

Joe Clokey, son of Gumby creators Art and Ruth Clokey gave a wonderful retrospective presentation “Gumby Through the Years,” which brought back a flood of fond memories for attendees. A steady flow of fans visited the temporary “Gumby Museum” which showcased photos, puppets, set pieces, toys and other memorabilia, provided by the Clokey family. Gumby episodes were shown in two locations, and a variety of animated student shorts submitted to the festival were also screened.

The “Gumby Gang,” a panel of current and former Clokey Productions animators, puppet makers, cameramen, artists, etc,. spoke to a packed auditorium. Some fun stories surfaced about working with Art and Ruth Clokey… oh, the clay fights! Many of the speakers described how their first film/TV job at Clokey Productions catapulted their careers. Collectively, they have gone on to work on blockbuster films and popular TV series too numerous to mention here.

Among the “Gumby Gang” speakers from the ‘60s studio was seven-time Academy Award winning make-up artist Rick Baker (Maleficent, An American Werewolf in London, Men in Black, Star Wars, and many, many more), who got his start as a teenager at Clokey Productions in the late ‘60s. Baker was joined by two of his contemporaries: Doug Beswick, with more than 40 years of visual effects achievements to his credit, including Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Terminator, Aliens, Evil Dead 2, Gremlins 2, Nightmare on Elm Street 3, and Beetlejuice; and Harry Walton, (Nightmare Before Christmas, The Abyss, James and the Giant Peach, Who Framed Roger Rabbit…) well-known for his skills in animation, visual effects, fabrication, puppet making and photography. Bill Stromberg and Carl Jablonski, animators/puppet makers, rounded out the speakers from the ‘60s.

Norman DiCarlo, Richard Zimmerman, and Chris Peterson represented the Clokey/Productions crew from the 1980s studio in Sausalito, CA. Ron Dexter and Fred Thompson elaborated on the more recent Clokey/Premavision productions in the 2000s.

Chris Peterson from LAIKA Studios introduced that studio’s newest film, Boxtrolls, and a team from Stoopid Buddies Studios (producers of Robot Chicken) previewed some of their work, discussed the more technical aspects of stop motion animation, and gave some insights on how the medium has evolved.

Creativity and New Gumby Memories

While the adults were riveted to the presentations, kids absorbed themselves in the many art and animation activities and games. They created their own stop motion videos, assisted by animators from Stoopid Buddies Studio. Visitors got Gumby temporary tattoos, danced along with Gumby to live local bands and ate yummy Gumby & Pokey cookies and cupcakes baked by a local Glendora bakery. Race car driver Kenton Koch, a Glendora native, showed off his custom Gumby race car, helmet and race suit. He graciously donated the helmet and suit to the Glendora Library for an auction. Read more about Kenton Koch.

All in all, it was a fantastic Gumby Day! The Gumby Central Gang appreciates all of the fantastic ideas, perfect coordination, and countless hours of volunteer work provided by the Glendora organizations their teams. A huge Gumby thank you to all who were involved! We are looking forward to Gumby Fest 2015! Glendora rocks!

Glendora native Kenton Koch and pal Gumby were all smiles atop the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California on May 3, 2014. Koch, racing his Gumby Fest custom ALARA Mazda MX-5, celebrated a first place finish at his home track.

“This weekend was a great weekend for Gumby! A win and a second place was just what we asked for,” said Koch.

In addition to his Gumby racing car, Koch sported a custom Gumby Fest Mazda Motorsports Sparco racesuit and helmet, which he donated to the Glendora Library to be auctioned off in support of the library. This partnership grew out of Koch’s desire to give back to his hometown. He found creative ways to get involved by promoting Gendora’s inaugural Gumby Fest, June 14, which honored the city’s connection to Gumby.

“A special thanks to L & G Enterprises for painting such a beautiful helmet. To whoever gets this piece of art, take care of it!” Koch remarked about the Gumby helmet.

Kenton made appearances before and during Gumby Fest for photos ops with Gumby, Koch’s custom racecar, suit and helmet.The first-ever Gumby Fest honored Glendora’s connection to Gumby—the city was home to Gumby’s studios (Clokey Productions) in the 1960s and 1970s. Thousands turned out for the festivities, which included presentations by current and past Clokey Productions crew, film screenings, stop motion animation demonstrations, a “Gumby Museum” filled with memorabilia, food, music, and a wide array of games and activities for the kids.The planning team is looking forward to the second annual Gumby Fest in the summer of 2015.

Glendora Racer Kenton Koch Promotes Inaugural Gumby Fest at 125 mph

April, 2014 (GLENDORA, Calif) Race drivers come in all shapes and sizes. Glendora native Kenton Koch is tall and lean, just like another famous Glendora native—Gumby. On May 1-3, Kenton will be taking Gumby for a high-speed ride in his ALARA Racing Mazda MX-5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California. This community partnership is to promote the June 14th Gumby Fest in Glendora, and help raise money for the Glendora Library.

Kenton Koch's Gumby race car

Kenton will be donating his custom Gumby Fest Mazda Motorsports Sparco racesuit and helmet to the Glendora Library to be auctioned off in support of the library.

Kenton Koch: “Being a native Glendora resident, I jumped at the chance to support this great community event. My plan is to take both Gumby and Pokey to the winners circle in Monterey.”

Joe Cina, Executive Director, Glendora Chamber of Commerce: “The inaugural Gumby Fest is all about fun for the family. It’s wonderful to have young community leaders like Kenton Koch step forward in creative ways to help out. This will be a great photo op for kids of all ages.”

Joe Clokey, Clokey Productions/Premavision: “Gumby is about adventure, and racing is certainly an adventure. It’s great to have a Glendora native carrying Gumby and Pokey at the racetrack.”

About Gumby and Gumby Fest

Memories of Gumby make everyone smile. What most people don’t know is that Gumby is alive and doing well, and we’re here to help promote and educate everyone on the history of Gumby as well as the magic Gumby will create for future generations. Welcome to Gumby Fest Glendora. Many are not aware Glendora, California, is Gumby’s hometown. Gumby was created in the mind of Art Clokey after he graduated from USC in the early 1950s. In 1953, Art produced the first clay animation music video called “Gumbasia,” which led to the Gumby series. Based on a suggestion by Art’s wife Ruth, Gumby’s shape was inspired by a gingerbread man. Clokey’s first commercial production of Gumby was an episode for the hugely popular “The Howdy Doody Show.” Gumby then earned his own spin-off in 1957 on NBC that resulted in 233 episodes. In 1960, the couple opened Clokey Productions on Fleetwood Avenue in Glendora. For the next 18 years, Gumby and the stop-motion animated children’s Christian television series, “Davey & Goliath” were produced quietly in an unassuming industrial building in south Glendora. Since Gumby lived in Glendora during his formative years from when he was 7 until 25, we humbly claim that Glendora is Gumby’s Hometown. In honor of Glendora’s connection to Gumby, Glendora will host the first ever Gumby Fest on June 14, 2014, with film screenings, demonstrations, memorabilia, historical displays and plenty of games, contests and activities for the kids.

About Kenton Koch Racing

19-year old Kenton Koch has been racing for over a decade, starting out in karts at age eight. The Glendora native balanced his school work with racing as he moved up to racing with the Skip Barber Racing School where he won 30 races over three years. Kenton won the 2013 Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge to earn a place in the Mazda SportsCar Racing Academy. Kenton kicked off the 2014 season with a win and a second place in the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich. When not at the racetrack, Kenton is a full-time student at Cal State Fullerton where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

Glendora, CA – Several film industry stop-motion animation artists will be joining the fun of the premier Gumby Fest to be held June 14 in Glendora, California.

Gumby, the world’s original clayboy and pop-culture legend who starred in more than 230 TV episodes and a movie, “grew up” in Glendora, where the iconic TV series was produced from 1960 to the late 1970s.

The celebration of all-things Gumby as well as stop-motion animation will take place on the grounds of Glendora City Hall and Public Library at the corner of Glendora Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

Among the family fun at Gumby Fest 2014:

“Gumby Through the Years” presented by Joe Clokey, son of creator Art Clokey,

Gumby Museum with memorabilia provided by the Clokey family and Gumby producer Premavision, Inc.,

Film screenings of Gumby cartoons, as well as stop-motion animation videos submitted to festival organizers,

A Kids’ Stop-Motion Animation Studio conducted by animation artists from Stoopid Buddies Stoodios, home to the longest running stop-motion show on television, Robot Chicken. Children will learn how to produce a stop-motion video they can take home after the festival,

Panel discussions about the past, present and future of stop-motion animation with artists from LAIKA Studios, producers of ParaNorman and next September’s BoxTrolls, along with stop-motion animators who worked with Art Clokey to produce Gumby shows.

Art and Ruth Clokey founded Clokey Films (later renamed Clokey Productions) when they launched “Gumby” in 1955. The studio moved from Hollywood to a larger facility in Glendora, California in 1960 when they began production on 85 “Gumby” episodes and 65 “Davey and Goliath” episodes.

Clokey’s son Joe and his wife Joan employ top animators, puppet makers and set designers in the industry (many of whom were mentored by Art himself) as they continue all things Gumby with Premavision, Inc., and Prema Toy, Inc.

Gumby Fest is produced by the Glendora Chamber of Commerce, Glendora Community Services, Glendora Library, Glendora Rotary and Glendora Kiwanis.

Here Comes the Parade

Gumby and the Clokey family were honored as Grand Marshals of the Glendora Christmas parade on December 14, 2013. Gumby appeared in person to hug and high-five fans. A 20′ tall inflatable Gumby made his way down the streets, bowing to the crowd. Gumby did as Gumby always does… he brought a smile to every face. Generations of fans lined the streets to cheer for this beloved icon.

The city of Glendora considers Gumby their son, because Gumby’s studio, Clokey Productions, was located in Glendora in the 1960s and 70s. Gumby grew up in Glendora! Art and Ruth Clokey produced 85 Gumby episodes in a Glendora warehouse, which were syndicated worldwide. Clokey Productions also created 65 Davey and Goliath episodes and six specials through the mid-70s. Gumby’s studio then moved to Sausalito, California, where another 100 episodes were made in the 80s.

Introducing Gumby Fest

The city of Glendora also chose Gumby and the Clokeys for this year’s parade as a kick-off for the first annual Gumby Fest. Gumby Fest, scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 2014, is Glendora’s fun-filled celebration of all things Gumby and stop motion animation.

Joe Clokey (Gumby’s brother) will present, “Gumby Through the Years” a wonderful retrospective of Gumby’s journey. Animators and crew who worked on Gumby productions and other well known animated films will take part in discussion panels. Fans will have an opportunity to learn about the 60-year history of the character and see clay puppets and sets at the temporary Gumby Museum. There will be screenings, demonstrations, hands-on art activities, music, photo opportunities with Gumby, and a stop motion animation film competition. It will be fun for the entire family. You won’t want to miss it!

See you there on June 14th. Gumby Fest will take place downtown Glendora at the library 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.